The Value of Continuing Education

Through the winter season we were lucky to dodge a couple of truly cold spells. The third week of January was seriously cold in Rockport with air temperatures in the mid- to upper-20s for three consecutive nights. Port Mansfield didn’t get that cold but it got dicey for a few hours. It is hard not to worry about the outcome of these events as they are happening, but knowing that I cannot control the weather is of some comfort.

During that cold spell I had several conversations with some up-and-coming guides on that very subject and spoke at length with David Rowsey and Cliff Webb. The upshot of these discussions is that communications with fellow fishermen about the effects of extreme weather conditions will never replace actually getting out there and experiencing the effects firsthand, reacting to the conditions, and working your ass off. I believe I have learned more on days when I was physically miserable and was then able to apply the knowledge gained to similar conditions with similar results. That is Patterning 101 in a nutshell. The only part of fishing over which we have absolute control is the amount of work we are willing to put in to attain the next level of angling skill.

During the winter months, it has become a prevailing myth among anglers that is necessary to slow their lure presentations to a crawl in order to catch fish. In my opinion this is only true when the temperature drops drastically over a short period of time. Once the water temperature levels off the fish will acclimate and become as active as they need to be to obtain a meal. To me, it is more about locating the portion of the water column that fish are using during cold periods versus slowing the presentation. I have observed this to be true many times during winter, and likewise during summer when water temperatures can be exceptionally high.

Coaching anglers on the water column thing is difficult if they are not familiar with the sink rates of the lures they are using. I typically choose lures that I can keep in the established strike zone for the time and conditions I am fishing. With this said, I outfit my wading box with slow sinking-suspending type plugs, a few soft plastics, and then some type of reaction-strike lure. For me, that lure is the Texas Customs Double D. I also carry a variety of sizes in all the types of lures mentioned. While my preference in lure color leans toward natural for the most part, I must say that hot pink and chartreuse are known to earn reaction strikes; so they also have a place in the box.

During winter months I monitor water temperatures continuously. Next, I watch the wind direction and velocity. Tides are not as critical to me in Rockport or Port Mansfield; wind-generated currents are more important in my daily game planning process. When in Port Mansfield I am living with my clients, so a common question is, “Where we headed in the morning?” My answer is always the same, “We will have to get up and see what we have to work with and then go from there.”

Don’t get in a rut by fishing the same areas day in day out. This is especially true when the bite is really on and happening. If you commit to only one area day after day you are limiting your ability to learn and grow as a fisherman. Like many in this industry, I too can become a bit lazy and sometimes find myself going back to where I know we can catch them. But is this really all the client is interested in? I guess that might be another article for another time.

For much of my career the majority of my clients have wanted to learn more about the areas we fished and how to effectively find and catch fish. This forced me to search out more areas that held fish, and ultimately become a better guide. This is still true, maybe even more so with the increasing numbers of fishermen using the water today. Once favorable water temperatures are found over suitable bottom structure, I shift into bait-finding mode. Let me restate; food and cover are the two things fish need most. When these have been established I am now looking for the best way to align my anglers in order to catch them.

Wind plays a huge role for me. I want to fish windward when I can, and I want that wind direction to allow me to stage my group offshore of the structure and work at slight angles to the wind. This is perhaps the most difficult aspect of the day in many situations. Many anglers continually allow the wind to push them forward. This is counterproductive, and there are times when I must bite my tongue. You want to slowly crab your way down the shoreline. Sure, you can ease in and out from time to time, but you must always have a good idea of the zone or line the bait is occupying and how it lies in relation to the predominant structure.

Quite often a single bite will get me to stop the entire group for as long as 15 to 30 minutes. Understand this, big fish don’t always act like they own the place. Many times they sit off to the side of aggressive feeding, waiting for an easy target that might be flushed by the frenzy. I have no science besides what I have observed to back my theory, but I have purposely made strategic casts to areas of similar depth and bottom structure that are not on a visibly active line, and caught some great fish.

The active line I so often speak of is more times than not, not so distinguishable. I try to get my anglers to pick up on the very small things that bait fish or birds of prey do that can put them on the proper line. Finding the line is huge but I believe that being able to slowly dissect how the line moves in the wind and current is even more important.

Have you ever seen a long tidal or wind-created slick that snakes its way across a flat? Lines of activity are much the same, not straight but somewhat controlled by wind direction and current. This year in Port Mansfield while fishing with Kyle and Shane, we followed wind slicks across a shallow clear-water flat. We discovered that trout and reds alike were using the color change. They both stated that in the Chandelier Islands where they fish often, these lines are a pattern they put into play whenever possible. The lines I follow are mostly invisible to those with less experience and are not only controlled by wind and current but also by subtle changes in bottom contour.

I have mapped and made mental notes of what I feel with my feet my entire career. My feet are literally my eyes under water. Many times I fish areas by feel versus what I can see. The combination of feel and sight, plus a little confidence, usually puts us on the proper line. The ability to stay positioned along the proper line is truly something that all anglers must continue to fine tune. When I am fishing a new area, discovering these lines takes time and can at times cost us a few fish during the process. I liken it to paying one’s dues. Reading the water is something I work on constantly. Quality polarized sunglasses are an absolute must. I use Smith Optics and have had very good luck with this brand of eyewear.

I did a video a few weeks ago on my Instagram account official_jaywatkinssrfishing that spoke to the importance of positioning and casting at angles to structure. This same pattern is used when fishing along shorelines. Allowing the wind or current to bend our cast in relation to the structure is so important and something that I must continue to coach my anglers on. Many instinctively want to push forward toward the shoreline and cast directly downwind. I have touched on this pattern in numerous articles and videos and I continue to do so because of its importance.

As water temperatures have warmed I am seeing more aggression in the trout that are staging in shallower water. The reactions of bait fish to the presence of predators can be numerous. Erratic or frantic jumps that don’t catch much air, little flips or flashes we see as mullet move along edges of potholes and grass beds, can all be indications of predator presence. These can also be indications of the types of lures we should be using and presentations we need to be making. When I see this type of activity, I go to the Texas Customs Double D, Custom Corky Floater, or Soft Dine. Jay Ray is the better floater fisherman and uses them way more than I do. What all these lures have in common is the ability to create a reaction strike. Topwaters are the same animal and can also be extremely effective. The new Duke Dog by MirrOlure is another good one in these situations and I like it’s shad-like profile.

I will wrap this up with a comment on what I consider a truly positive development in the continuing saga of speckled trout management. By the time you read this the daily bag limit will have become three trout of 15- to 20-inches, and hopefully soon, one fish per year with a 30-inch-plus trophy tag. Hats off to Texas anglers who helped accomplish this, the Coastal Fisheries staff and commission, for the pro-active position taken to insure the future of our fishery.

May Your Fishing Always Be Catching! -Guide Jay Watkins